She runs down the sidewalk. She makes the realization that she is not wearing her usual running attire. In fact she isn't running normally. She is running frantically. From something? To something. A tiny voice answers he question.
"Mommy? Mommy?"
She looks down the sidewalk. She sees nothing. She looks around. There are people on the sidewalk.
"Mommy," the little voice screams.
Her eyes search frantically, for the source of the voice. Finally she sees an open car door. She sees the little girl, through the back glass. She sees a man getting ready to get into the car. She races towards the car. The door slams. The window rolls down.
"You're too late," he taunts.
She stares at her tormenter's face, as the car he is in speeds off, with her little girl.
She feels like someone is watching her. She opens her eyes, only to realize that she has fallen asleep at her desk. She lifts her head, and peels the piece of paper off her face. She wipes the drool from her mouth. She looks at a pair of blue eyes. He holds out a cup.
"I shouldn't let you have this, since you fell asleep at your desk."
"It won't happen again."
"Long night?"
"The phone woke me up, sometime around three."
"Yeah? You have to make a trip?"
"Yep."
"How did that go?"
"Fine, once I got there."
"You should answer that," he points to her phone.
She looks at her desk. The phone lights up. When had she put it on silent? She picks up the phone, and puts it to her ear.
"Hello?"
"Do you have plans for lunch?"
"No, why?"
"You do now."
"What's wrong?"
"Nothing, she's just having another meltdown."
"Another?"
"We've only had three so far this morning."
She looks at her watch, "It's almost eleven."
"She's only been up since eight thirty."
"What's wrong?"
"She wants you."
"I'll meet you for lunch."
"I'm on my way to the bookstore, to keep her occupied until then."
"What have you done to occupy her, so far?"
"We made a trip to the pediatrician."
"What did he say?"
"That she's a little on the small side, but he said that it's not cause for concern since she was a preemie. He said that he expects her to catch up within the next year."
"Anything else?"
"She's cranky, because she had to get shots."
"Did she cry?"
"No. She was more upset that she got a pink band-aid, than she was about the shot."
"Did you..."
"I went and got her purple ones."
"What is she doing right now?"
"Eating some animal crackers. We're getting ready to go into the bookstore."
"Can I talk to her?"
"I don't think that it's a good idea. I just got her calmed down. I'm hoping that she might take a little nap, before she comes to see you."
"Who does she think you're on the phone with?"
"Work."
"Oh."
"Daddy?"
"I've got to go. I'll see you later," he hangs up.
She hangs up the phone, and finds Gibbs looking at her. He gets up from his desk, and approaches her.
"You ok?"
"Fine, why?"
"You seemed pretty upset, when you woke up."
"I'm fine."
"Bad dream?" he guesses.
"It was nothing," she brushes it off.
"Really?"
"I..."
"Lying doesn't get you anywhere."
"I dreamt that he took her from me."
"Who took her?"
She doesn't answer. She stares at him, with hollow eyes. He can see her travel back in time. He taps the back of her hand, with his index finger, to break her concentration. She looks up at him.
"Go see what Abby has for us. And call McGee, make sure he didn't get lost."
"He is a capable navigator."
"He should have been back twenty minutes ago."
"How long was I asleep?"
"About an hour."
"And you didn't wake me up?"
"I wasn't here."
"Right," she nods.
"Go, talk to Abby. I'm going to see what Ducky has for us."
"Ok," she nods, in agreement. She gets up from her desk, and heads to the elevator. The doors close behind her, but Gibbs doesn't join her. She tries to clear her head, as she rides down to Abby's lab. By the time the elevator doors open she finds her thoughts running rampant. She steps off the elevator, and makes her way into Abby's lab. Abby spins around, and looks at her.